City of MercedMerced Civic Center678 West 18th StreetMerced, California 95340

5/16/2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE #537

Subject :

Council considers options on District elections

Contact :

Mike Conway 209-385-6232

District election issue goes before City Council Monday

The City Council will consider whether Council Districts should have one or two members during their meeting Monday.

The Council will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. There will be a 5:30 p.m. study session to discuss the sewer master plan.

The City has been requested by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund to have Council elections conducted by districts, or face potential legal action. The Council asked for City Attorney to look into the possibility of splitting the City into three districts with two representatives in each district. The alternative would be six districts with one representative.

The decision to go to district elections would have to be approved by voters through an amendment to the City’s Charter. Staff is in the process of preparing the Charter amendment for the November ballot.

A three-year contract extension for landscape maintenance services with Yard Masters is on the agenda for consideration. The contract would pay the company $199,731 for 2014-15 to mow and edge approximately 179 acres of parks and street medians.

Council also is being asked to consider a resolution that would assure that the Fallen Officer Memorial would move if the police headquarters relocates. The Fallen Officer Memorial dedicated last month recognizes two officers who died in the line-of-duty – Edward Leap and Stephan Gray.

There will be a closed session following the study session to confer with labor negotiators and with legal counsel regarding potential litigation.

City Council meetings are streamed live on the Internet. A link to the live meeting is on the City’s home page at www.cityofmerced.org. The City will also add the Council video to YouTube for people that were unable to watch it live. These services are in addition to the live broadcast of the regular meeting on Comcast’s Government Channel 96.

The Council agenda is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org and is available outside the chambers prior to the meeting. Request to Speak cards are available at the meeting or can be downloaded from the City's website. Cards must be turned in to the City Clerk in order for a person to be recognized by the Council.